General Travel Tips

I've got a bad habit of flying by the seat of my pants and having full faith that everything will work out well.  It always works out in the end, but here are some things I learned along the way that would have saved me a decent bit of money or stress if I'd known them earlier:

To bring the debit card or not... outside of Uyuni, Bolivia.

Beware of credit card withdrawal fees
I thought I was being very wise at the beginning of my three-month trip by leaving my debit card at home and only taking my credit card for emergencies.  The less you have the less there is to lose or steal, right?  Yes, that's true, unless you factor in getting robbed by your credit card company (ok, I realize this is a harshly unfair statement; the fees are clearly stated in my contract).  When I ran out of the cash I had on hand, I relied on withdrawing money from ATM's.  This is a great idea if you have a debit card, because it limits the amount of cash you carry on yourself and usually there are no fees.  However, a "Cash Advance" via credit card almost always costs at least $10 (depending on the card there's also a percent of your withdrawal that can be charged).  If you withdraw money in every city, well, that adds up fast.  Bring a debit card that doesn't charge international withdrawal fees.

Charter flight in Costa Rica.

Backpackers- travel overnight
Traveling overnight is a three-pointer: you don't have to pay for a hostel, you get to where you want to go while you sleep, and you have the entire day in your next location!  I suggest packing plenty of warm clothes for overnight travel, as air conditioning on buses (and planes) often remains full blast.  Dramamine is not a bad idea, either.

I was complaining about having to find a hostel for just a few hours during a night layover in an airport when my friend Kelsey told me about http://www.sleepinginairports.net/.  Revolutionary!!  You can search on this website for specific airports and read reviews about how it was to sleep in them (and if security even let you).  Reviewers leave detailed comments about where to find internet, outlets, food, quiet hallways, comfortable benches, etc.  AMAZING!!



Check visa/entrance fees for each country
...especially if you are from the U.S.  Our country makes it super difficult for other people to enter, for better or for worse, and some countries make us traveling U.S. citizens pay for that.  In Argentina, for example, the fee is literally called a "Reciprocity Fee" (for U.S. citizens $160/ten years).  The payments can really add up, and can throw off your budget if you aren't prepared.  Also, some of these fees need to be paid BEFORE you arrive at the border (or at the airport; I missed a flight once D'OH!).  If you go via bus and haven't brought your money... best to plan ahead!

The rainy season in Aguascalientes, Peru.  Rafting was canceled.

Seasons change...
If there is a specific activity you want to do, say, hiking the Inca Trail into Macchu Pichu, be cognizant of what time of year you travel.  Rainy and dry seasons make a HUGE impact on what activities are available.  If you end up in Cusco, Peru in February and try to book the Inca Trail fuhget uhbout itttt!  It's closed.

Hiking during the rainy season is a bit different, as well... Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Stay flexible, keep your ears open
Undoubtedly, wherever you're traveling there is someone who has just been there or is also on their way.  These resources are way better (or at least an amazing supplement) to your travel guidebook.  Listen to what they did and take their recommendations.  I planned entire weeks in cities just by word-of-mouth of people I met en route, and I got to do a lot of things I probably would not have found on my own.  Thank you to all my fellow travelers!



I'd love to hear whatever gems you've come up with in your travel experiences.  There's so much that I don't know, and it sure would be nice to know in advance.  Please share!